Series Looks at Lives and Works of Composers from Bach to the Present Day

Rochester, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra begins an exciting new series of Symphony 101 concerts with Bach & Handel, a concert exploring the two composers credited with beginning the Classical music genre as it is known today. On Friday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Performance Hall at Hochstein, and Sunday, October 14 at 2:00 p.m. in the Hale Auditorium, Roberts Cultural Life Center at Roberts WesleyanCollege, Music Director Christopher Seaman leads the first of the insightful Symphony 101 concerts, which looks at the lives and music of Bach and Handel, and features Eastman School of Music graduate, tenor Pablo Cesar Bustos.

Through lively discussion by Maestro Seaman and musical demonstrations by the RPO, audiences will learn what events in these composers’ lives may have inspired them to write such great works as Bach’s Mass in B Minor and Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks. Mr. Seaman will also look at the composers who influenced Bach and Handel, including Henry Purcell and Alessandro Scarlatti.

Chilean-born Canadian tenor Pablo Cesar Bustos frequently appears as a concert soloist, focusing his talents on the Baroque and Classical repertoire. Mr. Bustos is a regular soloist for the Rochester Bach Festival’s monthly Bach Cantata Series. He recently has performed Handel’s Messiah with the Buffalo Philharmonic and was a finalist in the 2006 Philadelphia Bach Festival’s International Bach Aria Competition. Bustos received both his bachelor’s and master’s degree in vocal performance from the Eastman School of Music. He has been an ensemble member of the Eastman Opera Theatre and a featured singer with Eastman’s Collegium Musicum.

The 2007-08 Symphony 101 Series concerts will delve into the motivations, everyday lives and masterpieces of composers from Bach to the present day. Music Director Seaman leads these engaging and innovative Symphony 101 concerts that feature discussion, musical examples, selections from significant works and complete pieces. Following each concert, Mr. Seaman takes questions from the audience.

General admission tickets for these performances are $22, available online 24/7 at www.rpo.org, by phone (454-2100) and in person from the RPO Box Office. RPO Box Office hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (non-concert Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.).

Celebrating its 85th season in 2007-08, the RPO inspires and enriches the community through the art of music. The Orchestra is passionately dedicated to outstanding musical performance at the highest artistic levels, and has a unique tradition of musical versatility, commitment to music education in the broadest sense and a deep and enduring engagement with the community. The RPO has been honored with the New York State Governor’s Arts Award and two recent ASCAP awards for adventurous programming.

The Symphony 101 Series is sponsored by PAETEC Communications, Inc. Additional support for this series is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. RPO performances are made possible in part with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency; the State of New York; Monroe County; and the City of Rochester.

Note: Interviews with Pablo Bustos and photos are available upon request.